Of any, Of all
“This is the largest tree of any I have seen.”
The meaning clearly is, that of all the trees I have
seen this is the largest. Hence, of any should
be changed to of all.
________________________________________________
_________________
91
Older, Elder
Elder and eldest are terms applied chiefly to persons, generally in speaking of members of the same family, while older and oldest are applied to persons of different families, and also to things.
“His elder brother died yesterday.” “His eldest sister has gone to Italy on her wedding trip.” “Our oldest neighbor was born in 1825.” “This oak is older than that pine.” The foregoing sentences illustrate the best usage as applied to the comparatives older and elder and the superlatives oldest and eldest.
When the direct comparison is made the word older is used, followed by the conjunction than; as, “My father is older than my mother.” But when the comparison is assumed the word elder should be employed; as, “My father is the elder of my parents.”
Only
Perhaps no other word in the language is so often
misplaced as the word only. The only general
rule is to place it as near as possible to the word
which it modifies. “He only lent me a dollar”
means that he did not make me a present of the dollar,
but expects me to return it. “He lent me
only a dollar” means that the sum lent was neither
greater nor less than one dollar. The former
expression is often used when the latter should be.
________________________________________________
_________________
92
“Only the man walked to the post-office to-day.” The woman did not walk with him.
“The man only walked to the post-office to-day.” He did not ride or drive.
“The man walked only to the post-office to-day.” He did not go so far as the store.
“The man walked to the post-once only to-day.” Yesterday he rode and the day before he drove. Today is the only day that he walked.
George Eliot, in Middlemarch, says: “I only know two gentlemen who sing at all well,” and in another place, “I have only seen her once before.” The word only should be placed before two in the first sentence, and before once in the second.
Onto
There is a growing tendency to write the words on and to as one word. “Although nearly drowned he yet had strength enough to climb onto the rock.” The use of upon or on is generally better. When neither of these can be used write on and to as separate words.
Outstart
This word is sometimes used when outset should be employed.
Over and Above
“He earned twenty dollars over and above his
expenses.” Use more than or above.
________________________________________________
_________________
93
Party, Person
“Is she the party of whom you spoke?” “No; she is the person.”